Hagia Sophia Ticket Prices (2026): What You’ll Pay
The standard Hagia Sophia entry fee for foreign tourists is €25, introduced in January 2024. This covers access to the Visiting Area (upper gallery). Audio guide add-ons cost approximately €3–€8 more. Combo tickets pairing Hagia Sophia with other Sultanahmet landmarks range from €35 to €75. Guided tours start from around €30 per person for small-group options and €60+ for private experiences.
Until January 2024, Hagia Sophia was free to enter — a fact that still surprises many visitors planning their Istanbul trip. That changed when the Turkish Ministry of Culture introduced a €25 mandatory entry fee for foreign tourists, reflecting the monument’s status as one of the world’s most visited cultural sites. For Turkish citizens praying at the mosque, entry through the worshippers’ entrance remains free.
This guide gives you a clear and current breakdown of every price you are likely to encounter when booking a Hagia Sophia visit in 2026 — from the base entry fee to audio guides, combo tickets, and guided tours — so you can budget accurately and avoid unexpected costs.
The Hagia Sophia Entry Fee: What You Pay in 2026
Hagia Sophia charges €25 for foreign tourist entry as of 2026. This fee was introduced in January 2024 and is payable at the ticket booth or online through authorised booking platforms. Children under 8 accompanied by an adult enter free. Turkish citizens attending the mosque for prayer enter via a separate worshippers’ entrance at no charge.
The base entry fee structure at Hagia Sophia is as follows:
| Visitor Category | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| Foreign tourists (adults) | €25 |
| Children under 8 (with adult) | Free (ID required) |
| Turkish citizens (tourist entry) | Same fee as foreign tourists |
| Muslim worshippers (prayer only) | Free (separate entrance) |
The €25 fee covers access to the Visiting Area — the upper gallery where the Byzantine mosaics, Ottoman calligraphy, and elevated views of the interior are located. It does not cover the Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum, which has a separate admission fee.
Tickets can be purchased:
- At the ticket booth on-site (cash and card accepted; long queues in peak season)
- Online in advance via authorised booking platforms (recommended; same or slightly higher price, but bypasses the booth queue)
For a detailed discussion of whether online booking is worth it, see our guide to skip-the-line tickets at Hagia Sophia.
Audio Guide Prices
An audio guide for Hagia Sophia typically adds €3–€8 to the base ticket price when booked online through authorised platforms. The audio guide provides narrated commentary on the mosaics, architecture, and history of the building in multiple languages, delivered via a smartphone app as you move through the upper gallery.
Audio guides are available as an add-on to the standard entry ticket and are purchased as a bundle rather than separately. The audio guide is app-based and accessible on your own smartphone — you do not need to collect a physical device.
| Option | Approx. Price |
|---|---|
| Entry only (no audio) | €25 |
| Entry + audio guide | €28–€32 |
| Entry + audio guide + History Museum | €35–€40 |
For a full assessment of whether an audio guide is worth adding to your visit, see our dedicated Hagia Sophia audio guide review.
Book This TourHagia Sophia History and Experience Museum Prices
The Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum is a separate attraction located a short walk from the mosque in Sultanahmet Square. It houses interactive digital exhibits, scale models, and historical artefacts covering the building’s 1,500-year history.
| Option | Approx. Price |
|---|---|
| Museum only (no mosque entry) | €12–€15 |
| Museum + mosque combo | €35–€40 |
The museum also serves as the collection point for online mosque entry tickets — you visit the museum kiosk first to have your QR code scanned before proceeding to the mosque.
Buy This TicketCombo Ticket Prices: Hagia Sophia + Other Landmarks
Combo tickets pairing Hagia Sophia with other major Istanbul landmarks range from approximately €35 (with the Blue Mosque) to €75 (4-attraction packages including Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern). These typically offer skip-the-line access at each attraction and can represent meaningful savings compared to buying individual tickets separately.
If your Istanbul itinerary covers multiple Sultanahmet landmarks, combo tickets are often the most cost-effective approach. Here is a summary of current pricing across the main options:
| Combo | Includes | Approx. Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hagia Sophia + Blue Mosque | 2 landmarks + audio | From €38 |
| Hagia Sophia + Basilica Cistern | 2 landmarks + audio | From €42 |
| Hagia Sophia + Topkapi Palace | 2 landmarks | From €52 |
| Hagia Sophia + Blue Mosque + Basilica Cistern | 3 landmarks + audio | From €58 |
| 4-attraction super combo | 4 landmarks + audio | From €70 |
| Hagia Sophia + Bosphorus cruise | Mosque + cruise | From €55 |
All prices are approximate and vary by operator and season. Confirm current pricing at the point of booking.
Hagia Sophia + Blue Mosque
Buy This TicketHagia Sophia + Basilica Cistern
Buy This TicketHagia Sophia + Topkapi Palace
Buy This TicketHagia Sophia + Blue Mosque + Basilica Cistern
Buy This Ticket4-Attraction Super Combo (Hagia Sophia + Basilica Cistern + Topkapi + Blue Mosque)
Buy This TicketHagia Sophia + Bosphorus Cruise
Buy This TicketFor a full side-by-side comparison of all available tickets, see our complete Hagia Sophia tickets guide.
Guided Tour Prices
Guided tour prices at Hagia Sophia range from approximately €30–€50 per person for small-group tours to €60–€150+ per group for private guided experiences, depending on group size and what additional landmarks are included. Guided tours include skip-the-line entry as part of the package.
Small-Group Guided Tours
Small-group tours (typically 8–15 people) are the most popular guided option, offering the depth of a knowledgeable guide at a fraction of the cost of a private tour.
| Tour | Approx. Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| Hagia Sophia guided tour | From €30 |
| Hagia Sophia + Blue Mosque guided tour | From €45 |
| Half-day Istanbul morning tour | From €40 |
| Old Town walking tour (Hagia Sophia + Blue Mosque) | From €38 |
| Hagia Sophia + Blue Mosque + Hippodrome tour | From €42 |
| Hagia Sophia + Blue Mosque + Grand Bazaar | From €45 |
| Blue Mosque + Hagia Sophia + Sultanahmet tour | From €40 |
| Half-day tour (Blue Mosque + Hagia Sophia + Hippodrome + Grand Bazaar) | From €48 |
Private Guided Tours
Private tours offer a fully personalised experience with a dedicated guide for your group. The cost is higher per head but is shared across the group, making it good value for families and small groups of 3–6 people.
| Tour | Approx. Price Per Group |
|---|---|
| Private Hagia Sophia tour | From €60 |
| Dolmabahce Palace + Hagia Sophia + Galata Tower | From €90 |
| Full-day private Istanbul tour (including Hagia Sophia) | From €120 |
For help choosing between guided tour options, see our best Hagia Sophia guided tours guide.
The Istanbul Tourist Pass: Is It Worth It for Hagia Sophia?
The Istanbul Tourist Pass offers bundled skip-the-line access to a range of the city’s museums and attractions. Hagia Sophia is included in certain pass tiers. Whether the pass represents value for money depends on how many of the included attractions you plan to visit.
Buy This TicketFor a full breakdown of whether the pass works out cheaper than buying individual tickets, see our dedicated Istanbul Tourist Pass guide.
How to Pay Less: Practical Money-Saving Tips
Book online to avoid premium charges. Some unofficial sellers near the entrance charge significantly above the €25 base fee. Booking directly through an authorised platform ensures you pay a fair price with proper consumer protections.
Visit in low season. Ticket prices remain stable year-round, but visiting November through March means shorter queues and a less rushed experience — which makes the same ticket feel considerably better value.
Bundle with other landmarks. If you plan to visit the Basilica Cistern and the Blue Mosque on the same day as Hagia Sophia, a triple combo ticket will almost always cost less than three separate tickets purchased individually.
Children under 8 are free. Families travelling with young children should remember that under-8s enter at no charge, provided they bring a valid ID or passport.
Avoid unofficial resellers. Touts operating near the entrance sometimes sell tickets at inflated prices or with misleading descriptions of what is included. Buy only through the official on-site booth or recognised booking platforms.
Complete Hagia Sophia Price Summary
| Product | Approx. Price |
|---|---|
| Base entry (booth or online) | €25 |
| Entry + audio guide | €28–€32 |
| Entry + audio + history museum | €35–€40 |
| History museum only | €12–€15 |
| Private guided tour (group) | From €60 |
| Small-group guided tour (per person) | From €30 |
| + Blue Mosque combo | From €38 |
| + Basilica Cistern combo | From €42 |
| + Topkapi Palace combo | From €52 |
| Triple combo (Hagia Sophia + Blue Mosque + Cistern) | From €58 |
| 4-attraction super combo | From €70 |
| + Bosphorus cruise | From €55 |
| Istanbul Tourist Pass (includes Hagia Sophia) | Varies by pass tier |
All prices are approximate and subject to change. Always confirm current pricing at the point of booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Hagia Sophia cost to enter in 2026?
The standard entry fee is €25 for foreign tourists. This was introduced in January 2024. Children under 8 enter free. Audio guide bundles add approximately €3–€8 to the base price.
Is Hagia Sophia still free for Turkish citizens?
Turkish citizens can enter via the worshippers’ entrance for prayer at no charge. However, tourists — including Turkish citizens visiting for cultural rather than religious purposes — pay the same €25 entry fee as foreign visitors.
Has the Hagia Sophia entry fee increased recently?
The €25 fee was introduced in January 2024. As of 2026 it remains at this level, though prices should always be confirmed at the point of booking as they are subject to change.
Are there any discounts available?
There are no widely publicised student, senior, or group discount rates for the standard entry fee. The main way to reduce cost is by bundling multiple attractions with a combo ticket.
Do I pay in euros or Turkish lira?
The price is quoted in euros but is typically payable in lira at the booth (at the prevailing exchange rate) or in any major currency via card online. Online prices are generally shown in euros.
Is there an admission fee for the Blue Mosque?
The Blue Mosque itself is free to enter — it charges no admission fee. If you see a ticket described as “Hagia Sophia + Blue Mosque,” the cost covers Hagia Sophia entry plus a guided or skip-the-line experience at the Blue Mosque, not basic admission.
